Returns & Complaints in Chinese 退换货
tuìhuàn huò
Return goods / to complain in Chinese are 退货 / 投诉 (tuì huò / tóu sù).
Also searched for as: refund, return, complain, exchange.
What if something goes wrong? 15 essential returns & complaints words in Mandarin Chinese, with pinyin and English. Open it in the app to hear each word, tick off the ones you know and turn them into flashcards.
退换货 (tuì huàn huò) covers returning and exchanging goods, and these words give you polite but firm language for when a purchase goes wrong. The key verbs are 退货 (tuì huò), to return, and 换货 (huàn huò), to exchange, and if things escalate you may need 投诉 (tóu sù), to make a formal complaint.
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 退货 | tuì huò | to return goods |
| 换货 | huàn huò | to exchange |
| 退款 | tuì kuǎn | refund |
| 质量问题 | zhì liàng wèn tí | quality problem |
| 坏的 | huài de | broken; faulty |
| 小票 | xiǎo piào | receipt |
| 投诉 | tóu sù | to complain |
| 经理 | jīng lǐ | manager |
| 不满意 | bù mǎn yì | not satisfied |
| 道歉 | dào qiàn | to apologise |
| 解决 | jiě jué | to resolve |
| 赔 | péi | to compensate |
| 保修期 | bǎo xiū qī | warranty period |
| 七天无理由 | qī tiān wú lǐ yóu | 7-day no-reason return |
| 发错了 | fā cuò le | sent the wrong item |
Usage tips
- Shops will almost always ask for your 小票 (xiǎo piào), the till receipt, and for electronics they'll check whether you're still within the 保修期 (bǎo xiū qī), the warranty period.
- 七天无理由退货 (qī tiān wú lǐ yóu tuì huò) refers to the mainland rule that lets online shoppers return most items within seven days without giving a reason.
- Opening with 不好意思 (bù hǎo yì si) before explaining the problem usually gets a better response than leading with 我要投诉 (wǒ yào tóu sù), which signals a formal complaint.
Common mistakes
- Saying something is 坏的 (huài de) because it doesn't fit; 坏的 means broken or faulty, so for clothes that don't fit say 不合适 (bù hé shì).
- Translating 'return' literally as 回 (huí), as in 我想回这个; the verb for returning goods is 退 (tuì), as in 我想退这个 (wǒ xiǎng tuì zhè ge).
Mini dialogue
- A你好，这个耳机收到的时候就是坏的。Nǐ hǎo, zhè ge ěr jī shōu dào de shí hou jiù shì huài de.Hello, these headphones were already broken when they arrived.
- B不好意思。您带小票了吗？Bù hǎo yì si. Nín dài xiǎo piào le ma?I'm sorry about that. Have you brought your receipt?
- A带了。我想退货，不想换货。Dài le. Wǒ xiǎng tuì huò, bù xiǎng huàn huò.Yes. I'd like to return them, not exchange them.
- B没问题，退款三天内到账。Méi wèn tí, tuì kuǎn sān tiān nèi dào zhàng.No problem, the refund will reach your account within three days.
Example sentences
- 这件衣服可以退货吗？Can I return this item?
- 这件太小了，可以换货吗？This is too small, can I exchange it?
- 什么时候能退款？When can I get a refund?
- 这个有质量问题。There's a quality problem with this.
- 收到的时候就是坏的。It was already broken when it arrived.
- 请带好小票。Please bring your receipt.
- 我要投诉。I want to make a complaint.
- 我想找你们经理。I'd like to speak to your manager.
- 我对服务很不满意。I'm very unhappy with the service.
- 他们向我道歉了。They apologised to me.
- 这个问题怎么解决？How will this be resolved?
- 你们应该赔我。You should compensate me.
- 还在保修期内。It's still under warranty.
- 网购有七天无理由退货。Online orders have a 7-day no-reason return policy.
- 你们发错了颜色。You sent the wrong colour.
Practise speaking
Ready to use these words? The Returns & complaints speaking island has 8 everyday questions about returns & complaints to prepare your own answers to.